Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: Colton Sissons played junior hockey as a 16-year-old with the BCHL’s Westside Warriors. He scored 6 goals with 16 assists and had 29 penalty minutes in 58 games. In the playoffs he had 1 goal with 1 assist and 4 penalty minutes. The Kelowna Rockets obtained his WHL rights from the Saskatoon Blades following the season.

2010-11: Sissons skated in 63 games for Kelowna in his first WHL season. He scored 17 goals with 24 assists and was plus-15 with 46 penalty minutes. The Rockets reached the second round of the playoffs after finishing first in the BC Division and in 10 playoff games Sissons scored 3 goals with 3 assists and was plus-two with 6 penalty minutes.

2011-12: Sissons got off to a fast start in his second season with Kelowna, scoring 20 goals in the team’s first 35 games, and finished as the Rockets’ third-leading scorer. In 58 games he scored 26 goals with 15 assists and was minus-14 with 62 penalty minutes. The Rockets, one of the younger teams in the WHL, were no match for powerful Portland in the first round of the playoffs. In the four game series with the Winterhawks Sissons scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was minus-seven with 2 penalty minutes. Sissons was ranked 14th amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft.

2012-13: Sissons signed a three-year entry-level contract with Nashville in September 2012 before returning to Kelowna for his third WHL season. A captain for the Rockets in his third season, he put up big numbers despite missing most of December after suffering a concussion. In 61 games he scored 28 goals with 39 assists and was +43 with 54 penalty minutes. One of the more freewheeling clubs in junior hockey, the Rockets finished first in the B.C. Division and reach the second round in the playoffs. Sissons missed the playoffs due to an arm injury.

2013-14: Sissons made his NHL debut with Nashville as a 20-year-old in a January game against Winnipeg and skated in 17 games for the Predators in his first pro season. He scored his first NHL goal in a March game against Buffalo and had three assists; finishing the year with an even plus/minus and four penalty minutes and averaging 10:37 minutes of ice time. Sissons played 62 regular season games and three playoff contests for Nashville AHL affiliate Milwaukee. He scored a team-high 25 goals with 19 assists and was minus-three with eight penalty minutes during the regular season and was minus-three with one assist and two penalty minutes in the playoff series against Toronto.

Talent Analysis

Sissons has the look of a primarily defensive forward with a bit of offensive upside. His defensive skills are already well-formed, and he isn't afraid to join puck battles along the boards. Sissons skating could be described as adequate; he can keep up once up to speed, but does not have good initial acceleration. It remains to be seen how much offensive upside is there for Sissons, but his likely role will be as a third-line defensive specialists.

Future

Sissons did not look out of place in his limited time with Nashville last season and could challenge for a lower line role with the Predators this year. Known more for his two-way play coming of junior hockey, Sissons was the leading goal scorer for Nashville AHL affiliate Milwaukee and could have more of an offensive upside than previously thought.

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